Easel or support for posters and the like



1932- M. EINSON 1,870,798

EASEL OR SUPPORT FOR POSTERS AND THE LIKE Filed May 4, 1931 Patented Aug. 9, 1-932 MORRIS M. EINSON, OF YONKEBS, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR T0 EINSON-FREEMAN (10., KING,

0]? LONG- ISLAND CITY, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW Y0 1: i.

EASEL OR SUPPORT FOR POSTERS AND THE LI it Application filed May 4,

The present invention consists of a combined collapsible stretcher and easel or support for posters or the like and is particularly applicable for posters composed of a sheetof 5 flexible material bound at both ends by Stlff: ening bars. Heretofore various devices of this kind have been proposed but invariably, such devices are more or less complicated and difficult to set up because they are made up of a number of separated parts which must be put together in the setting up of the device for use.

In order to facilitate shipping and storage, flexible posters of the kind to which the present invention is most applicable are usually rolled up around one of the end stiffening bars and packed together with the easel within an ordinary mailing tube.

The improved easel or support has all "the advantages of the previously proposed devices and with the additional advantage that the improved device is composed of the minimum number of unsep arated parts which may be easily set up into the operative position even by an inexperienced person. With the improved device a stretcher bar is employed and this bar is made up of two rod sections of spring material, either wire or preferably the rods are composed of a fibrous wood which will permit of bending to exert tension sulficient to spread the stiffening bars of the poster apart and thereby stretch the poster into a taut condition. The two sections of the stretcher member are united by a frictional joint arranged so that one section will slide with relation to the other to permit shortening of the device to a length equivalent to or less than the width of the poster.

A prop is provided which in conjunction with the frame or stiffening bar member previously mentioned, provides an easel support for the poster. Said prop is hingedly united with a device which holds the tension rods. A self-engaging interlocking device is interposed which will be engaged so as to retain the said prop in its angular or operative position. Said interlocking device may bereadily disengaged so that the prop, along with the tension bars, can be brought together to Serial No. 534,733.

permit rolling up of the poster around the said stiffening members.

Another feature of the present invention is the provision of means for preventing the turning of the tension bars, so that the easel may not be closed into a position wherein the poster will topple over.

The improved device and the several novel features thereof will be more fully described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawing wherein higure l is a perspective view showing the back of the display or poster in the set up position;

Figure 2 is a side elevation partly in section showing the easel in its operative positlon;

Figure 3 is an enlarged side elevation show ing the improved device employed for uniting the tension bars and prop together;

Figure 4 is a View similar to Figure 3 but showing the improved union device in its A closed position; and

Figure 5 is a detail view showing a form of means employed to prevent turning of the tension rods within their seat.

Referring to said drawing, the improved device is shown as applied to a poster 1 preferably composed of flexible material coinmonly employed such as paper backed with cloth to strengthen the same. stiffening bars 2-3 are secured respectively to the top and ottom edge of said poster so as to stretch the poster sheet laterally. A tension or stretching device is provided which comprises rods 4-5 secured at their free ends to the stiffening bars 23 by insertion of said device in holes 6 providing sockets to receive and retain said ends. lhe two rod sections l-5 are united together by a double ferrule or tubular member 7 which frictionally holds the rods in an adjusted position. It is, however, only necessary that one of the rods should slide within said joint; therefore the end of one rod 4,-for example, is tightly held within said ferrule and the other rod 5 is allowed a sliding movement so that the stretcher bar complete may be closed to a width not greater than the width of the said easel device and this prop consists of a leg 8 which is free at one end and held in a tubular holder or ferrule 9 at the other end.

Said rod 8 is tightly engaged within said holder 9 which is pivotally connected at 10 to the double ferrule device 7. This arrangement is to permit the opening of'the prop into the angular. supporting position as shown and also permit closing of the prop in a position parallel with the tension rods 4--5. Both the single ferrule 9 and double ferrule 10 are preferably made of sheet metal doubled over so as to form sockets for the rods and means are provided on said ferrule or holders to interlock under self-action so as to retain the supporting prop 8 in the operative position. Said means comprises the fin'll on the single. ferrule and fin 12 on the double ferrule. In the single ferrule-the fin 11 is composed of double stock brought tightly together. The fin 12 is also made of double stock but slightl spread apart so as to receive the fin 11 t erebetween when the prop is in its closed position. One side of the fin 12 is cut out to provide lip or projection 13 and it will be noted, in the 0 en position, the edge of fin 11 engages the e ge of the lip 13 so as to prevent closing up 0 the prop.

With the arrangement of the connecting meansfor the rods, as above described,when the device is in its closed position.one of the rods 4, for example, is pushed down through its retaining socket in the double ferrule 7 as shown in Figure 4.. The prop or leg 8 is pushed in-the position to lie substantlall parallel with the tension rods 3 and 4. n this position the easel or support complete ma be enclosed within the rolled up poster w1thout.detaching or separating any of the parts thereof. a

When it is desired to set the poster in the display position the rods 4 and 5 are drawn out to the length re uired and the ends thereof are inserted in t e sockets in the stiffening bars 23. The rods are maintained un-' der tension so as to be slightly curved ,and this curvature together with the friction in the sockets of the ferrule 7 will firmly retain the rods in their adjusted position. To form a support the prop 8 is opened out and the fin 11 engages the lip or projection 13 thereby preventing the self or accidental closing of the prop support.

In practice it is found that the tension rods, when in the operative position, have a tendency to turn within the socket so as to bring the supporting leg 8 close up to theposter and in this position of the supportmg leg the poster will not be held in the standing position. To prevent thls turnmg movement, one end of one of the tension rods 5 forexample, carries a ferrule 14 having barbs or points 15 which are embedded in 1. A combined stretcher and supporting 1 device for a flexible poster comprising stifi' ening bars at each end of said poster, a stretcher bar composed of a pair of resilient rods united together by a double ferrule'or tubular member which permits of a relative sliding movement under frictional restraint of said rods for adjustment, and a supporting prop hingedly connected to said errule or tubular member. 2'. A- combined stretcher and supportin device for a flexible poster comprising sti ening bars at;each end of said oster, a stretcher bar composed of a pair 0 resilient rods united together by a double ferrule or tubular member whichpermits of a relative sliding movement under frictional restraint of said rods for adjustment, a. supporting prop hingedly connected to said ferrule or tubular member, and interlocking means whereby said prop is maintained in its open or operative position.

3. An easel or support of the class described composed of a pair of rods, a slip joint composed of a holder uniting said rods, said holder comprising a duplex socket device in which said rods slide relatively to each other under frictional restraint, a supporting prop connected to said holder, and automatically interlocking means whereby said prop is maintained in its operative position.

4. Adevice of the .class described comprising a pair of rods, a device for unitin said rods together so as to permit relative 'ding.

movement thereof, said device being in the 5. A device of the class described comprisin a pair of rods, a device for uniting said ro s together so as to permit relative sliding movement thereof, sald device being in the formof a .double ferrule having laterally projecting fins, a prop or supporting member rlgidly held in a socket, sald socket bein in the form of a ferrule having a fin pivot y.connected between the fins of said double fexqule, means for retaining said prop in its oper tive position, and said means comprising a lip or I navopea r'ojection on one of the fins of said double errule enga g the fin of said socket.

6. An ease or sufipport for a poster or the like comprisin sti ening on cross bars forming a part of t e poster, said easel being composed of a pair of rods united together by a device fpermitting relative sliding movement thereo a rop member hinged to said device, said rods ing restrained from turnin by means comprislng a ferrule at one end 0 one of said rods and a receiving socket in one of said cross bars, said ferrule having rongs or projections which are embedded in t e receivmg socket, and said restraining action operating to retain said prop in its operative position.

7. In. a device of the class described, a stretcher or tension means composed of a pair of relatively slidable parallel resilient rods or members united by a frictional joining means, said means comprising a double ferrule or member in which one of said rods is permitted a sliding movement, and a supporting prop or leg hingedly connected to said ferrule.

In testimony whereof I aflix mg si ature. MORRIS M. I ON. 

